About Cape Lookout National Seashore
A boat ride three miles off-shore brings you to the barrier islands of Cape Lookout National Seashore. Horse watching, shelling, fishing, birding, camping, lighthouse climbing, and touring historic villages--there’s something for everyone at Cape Lookout. Be sure to bring all the food, water, and supplies you need (and carry your trash out of the park) when visiting these remote beaches.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
Spring: Temperatures generally range from 50 F to 70+ F. Rain & wind are common Summer: Temperatures usually range from 80 F to 100 F with high humidity (80-90%). Average wind speed is 10-15 mph. Be prepared with plenty of water. With little shade on the islands, an umbrella to…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: North Carolina. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Operating Hours
Cape Lookout National Seashore has 3 offshore barrier islands that are open 24 hours and 365 days a year (weather permitting). Operating hours for visitor centers and other services will vary throughout the year.
Activities
Current Alerts
You may not reach some areas near the lighthouse and Great Island Cabin Camp due to the flooding and other conditions of the open beach. Access ramps may be in rough shape due to over wash, drive carefully in those locations.
The ferry dock servicing the Cape Lookout Lighthouse area is closed for repairs. Visitors will deboard the ferry in front of the lighthouse. To reach the boardwalk, visitors will need to walk 5–10 minutes on soft sand. Depending on the tide, visitors may also need to walk through water.
Getting There
Cape Lookout National Seashore can be reached without taking a ferry: the Visitor Center on Harkers Island, NC. Please note: the park mailing address does not bring you to the Harkers Island Visitor Center parking lot. If you are using a GPS device - use the parking lot coordinates (34.68494, -74.52725) or the following "address" which approximates the location of the parking lot entrance: 1800 Island Rd, Harkers Island, NC 28531
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Kayak or Canoe Core Sound and Back Sound
The islands of this North Carolina park lie between two and three miles from the mainland. At this distance, even…
Night Skies at Cape Lookout
Cape Lookout National Seashore is a sanctuary for natural darkness on the East coast of the United States. Take this…
Visitor Centers
Harkers Island Visitor Center
Available Facilities: Restrooms, first aid, ferry ticket booth, picnic area, and a kayak launch site. Programs and Amenities: Exhibits on island history and ecology including…
Great Island Cabin Office
Located at Great Island on South Core Banks, this area is only reached by either the park ferry or your personal boat. The vehicle ferry…
Light Station Visitor Center
Available Facilities: Restrooms, first aid, shade shelter, water fountain. Purchase tickets for climbing the lighthouse at the ticket window. Also available: park passport stamp station,…
Portsmouth Visitor Center
Located in the historic Theodore & Annie Salter House (The first house on the right of the path from Haulover Dock) in Portsmouth Village on…
Campgrounds
South Core Banks -- Beach camping
Dispersed camping along the ocean beach of this 20 mile long barrier island -- this is backcountry-style camping -- all camping is done directly on…
Great Island Cabin Camp
Great Island Cabin Camp offers 23 rustic, wooden beachfront cabins with porches for individuals and families or small groups of up to 12 people. Cabins…
North Core Banks - Beach Camping
Dispersed camping along the ocean beach of this 20- barrier island -- this is backcountry-style camping -- all camping is done directly on the ocean…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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